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DAVID MCKEOWN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joan M. Koslosky, sister of the late Michael D. Ferugio, who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, speaks during a memorial service at the Ferugio Tree on Wednesday at Penn State Schuylkill in Schuylkill Haven.

David McKeown / Staff photographer
Penn State Schuylkill chancellor, Patrick Jones, speaks during the 9/11 memorial service at the Ferugio Tree at Penn State Schuylkill on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The family of the late Michael David Ferugio and members of the Penn State Schuylkill family gathered on campus Wednesday morning to remember the fallen heroes of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Formerly of Palo Alto, Ferugio, 37, was attending a meeting at Aon Corporation on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center South Tower that morning. An insurance broker living in Brooklyn with his wife, Susan, he was a proud graduate of the Penn State Class of 1987 and had started his post-secondary education at the Schuylkill campus.

The remembrance began at 8:45 a.m. and was held near the Ferugio Tree, a large blue spruce dedicated in his honor on Sept. 11, 2002. The sidewalk that leads to the tree was lined on both sides with American flags.

Moderator and campus Chancellor Patrick M. Jones introduced Ferugio’s sister, Joan M. Koslosky, of Cressona, who attended with another sister, Gayle F. Sleva, of Allentown. Koslosky spoke of her brother and his kind and personable ways, and his great love for Penn State.

“When they asked me to speak, I was very happy because I was so afraid that Mike was going to be forgotten,” Koslosky said. “Looking around at everyone and with this being the first time in so many years, he isn’t forgotten.”

‘Everyday Americans’

Jones called for a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time when the first plane struck the North Tower, and at 9:03 a.m., the time the South Tower was struck.

“At this time (8:46) 18 years ago today, most Americans watched our televisions in shock as smoke billowed atop One World Trade Center,” Jones said. “American Airlines Flight 11 had crashed into it and we did not know why. Later we would learn that Flight 11 and three other passenger airliners had been hijacked by terrorists intent on using the planes as weapons to strike symbols of American power.”

He noted how the “everyday Americans” aboard Flight 93, which would crash near Shanksville, sacrificed the lives of 90 on that plane but saved “countless others” by not allowing it to also be used as a weapon in Washington, D.C.

“Armed with nothing more than boiling water, plates, a rolling food cart and a fire extinguisher, (they) stormed the cockpit to overtake the terrorists and thwart their plans, thus mounting the first counterattack of our 18-year-long global war on terror,” Jones said.

He said it was a day that saw people come together, no matter their background, race or religion.

“On that horrific day and those that immediately followed, the best of our character shone forth,” Jones said. “We were brave, selfless, caring, kind and generous. We were bolstered by the support and loyalty of our allies.”

She noted that her and Gayle are the only living members of their immediate family.

“We remember. Our children remember. My friends and her friends remember,” she said. “On any given day, we can walk and meet someone who Mike knew and they’ll always have a story for us. He always had a smile and always had a kind word.”

She added, “A long time ago, Al (her husband) and I were out listening to music, and I looked over and saw tears in his eyes. I didn’t know why. I asked what was wrong and he said, ‘I thought we would have more time.’ We were listening to James Taylor’s ‘Fire and Rain’ (which includes the line, ‘I always thought that I’d see you again.’) It’s amazing what kind of messages we get out of songs.”

Koslosky spoke about her brother’s confirmation and having chosen a mantra: “I will do a kind act every day.”

“Michael did try to do that, and if anyone needed help, and if he could, he would,” Koslosky said.

In concluding her remarks, Koslosky led the “Prayer to St. Michael.”

“May God bless America and all of you who have joined us today in honoring Michael and the other victims of 9/11,” she said.

Do as Mike would

Jones asked the audience to “go forward” as Ferugio would have wanted “and as we aspire to live as Penn Staters.”

“Let us be kind and caring, welcoming and generous, and dedicated to making our world a better place,” he said.

The singing of the alma mater was led by instructor of corporate communications Janelle L.H. Gruber, which was followed by everyone saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Shortly afterward, everyone spontaneously began singing “God Bless America” as they turned toward an American flag.

After the program, Jones was asked about the need to remind people about what happened that day, especially those students attending their freshman year at Penn State who were born in 2001.

“All of our traditional age students, those from 18 to 21 years old, have only known us being at war since they were tiny tots at the time,” Jones said. “We had a certain life experience, and certainly I did growing up in the ’60s and ’70s. Sept. 11 was certainly the Pearl Harbor of our generation.”

Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023

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